UAE teams to scope out infrastructure investment

Two high-powered delegations from the United Arab Emirates will arrive in Dhaka early next year to scrutinise investment prospects in the country, like the construction of a third seaport in Patuakhali and of the 285km long marine drive project.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said this to the press yesterday, while updating about Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's October visit to the UAE in October this year.

Hasina urged DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem to invest in the seaport in Patuakhali and in the Mirsarai–Teknaf marine drive project.

Later, the government sent formal proposals for the projects to UAE.

“We are now in discussion with DP World and another company, Mubadala, for Paira Bandar and Marine Drive projects,” Ali said.

DP World has a portfolio of more than 65 marine terminals across six continents, including new developments underway in India, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Mubadala is an investment and development company supporting the diversification of the UAE by investing in key social infrastructure propjects and creating globally integrated industry sectors in Abu Dhabi.

Focused on investment and development across multiple sectors, Mubadala's portfolio is valued at $60.8 billion.

Ali also said transit visa complexities for Bangladeshi seamen that need to land at UAE ports including Dubai will also be removed.

Many international shipping companies recruit Bangladeshi seamen and ask them to join and board ships from the Dubai port while the ship is docked there for a few days, according to the foreign ministry.

But as UAE does not allow transit for the Bangladeshi nationals, the sailors cannot join the ship in Dubai, and lose the jobs to other nationalities.

The foreign minister discussed the issue with his UAE counterpart on the sidelines of an anti-piracy conference held in Dubai on October 28-29. The prime minister also highlighted the subject.

“The UAE government is now looking into the matter, and we hope these complexities will be removed soon easing the entire process,” Ali said.